000-28M Eric Clapton

My newest Martin, a 000-28M Eric Clapton limited edition signature model. Madagascar Rosewood back and sides, and also the headplate. Carpathian spruce top finished with 1935-style sunburst. Fingerboard and bridge are ebony. Scale length 24.9", nut width 1-3/4". I still need to re-photograph it, as I removed the pickguard the day after I got it (you can see that in the 2nd photo).

461 guitars were made in this edition (the number coming from Eric Clapton's 1974 comeback album 461 Ocean Boulevard).

This is guitar #1 of the edition. It's very unusual to see #1 of an artist's edition except in the hands of the artist himself.
According to Martin, This one was offered to Eric, but he had already taken the two prototypes of this design so he would have had to buy it, and he declined.
Martin wound up sending it out to a dealer in California, from whom I was lucky enough to acquire it.
Note to Eric Clapton: I'm sorry you missed out on a great one, but I'm sure you have plenty. The next time you're in the Bay Area come on over and try it out!

The picture on the left is before I removed the pickguard, on the right is after. (Ignore color differences, they are a result of differences in the lighting, nothing was changed except removal of the pickguard).

First string change on the new guitar. The pickguard came off the next day. Of course the computer is tuned to umgf.com.

This shows the pickguard before I removed it. Since I plan to use this guitar for fingerstyle play, no pickguard is necessary and it looks more beautiful without it.

000-28M-330914

Waverly tuning machines.

Madagascar rosewood headplate.

Interior shot (sorry for poor quality) showing scalloped bracing.

Inspection mirror shot. Unfortunately the brace covers the pencil writing on the underside of the top, but i assume it says Carp 000, perhaps with a grade number (I'm not sure if Martin has different grades of Carpathian spruce, it's rarely used in Martin guitars.)

On the left is my other Madagascar rosewood guitar, also made in 2008. Martin America's Guitar 175th Anniversary dreadnaught.